Colt Ford and The LACS fused Johnny Cash and Vanilla Ice with Jason Aldean and The Charlie Daniels Band for a roaring night of country-rap music that could be heard all the way from Market Street at the Azalea Festival on Saturday night. View a photo gallery of the concert.

Playing on an outdoor stage at Cape Fear Community College, the LACS,?short for The Loud-Ass Crackers, opened for Colt Ford. The musical duo of rapper Clay ?Uncle Snap? Sharpe and country crooner Brian ?Rooster? King dressed casually in t-shirts and ball caps, Sharpe in a cutoff shirt labeled ?Fresh Prince? and King sporting one of the hundreds of camo hats that were donned on stage and in the crowd. Apparent from their easy dialogue between songs, the pair felt right at home, with Sharpe telling a story of being uncomfortable in a Beverly Hills Calvin Klein store that only, in his words, a redneck would understand — cheers from the crowd indicated they did.

With a beer or guitar in their hands at all times, Sharpe and King bounced back and forth singing songs they did and didn?t want to perform — Sharpe was forced by the band and crowd to rap ?Ice Ice Baby? — and throwing t-shirts that said ?White Trash? into the crowd. They asked for requests and put off playing their first single, ?Kickin’ Up Mud,? with more than eight million hits on YouTube, until the end of their set. More rap than country, unlike the songs that came before it, ?Kickin’ Up Mud? gave the crowd what it had been asking for all along and set the stage for Colt Ford?s similar rap-blended country music.

Colt Ford

With Miller Lite, a co-sponsor of the event, coursing through the veins of many in attendance, the crowd erupted into a thunderous, almost deafening roar, when the pro-golfer turned country singer came on stage. With an American flag painted with his name across it in the backdrop and wearing a red t-shirt, black cowboy hat and jeans, the singer started his set with his original song ?Answer to No One? and soon pulled out a collaboration he did with Jason Aldean.

I’m so glad the white people of NC were entertained with country music this and every azalea festival since the 90’s. Where is the diversity in choosing musical acts? Its clear you didnt want think about other minority groups when you plan your events for the azalea festival. Look at the pictures posted by the star news for all the acts that played here, nothing but white people is visible. Believe it or not, there are minorities living in Southeastern NC who have spending money power but yet you still alienate them. Sure, we had a minority queen last year but how long did that take since Phylica Rashad. The azalea festival had a country themed queen and country themed concerts with some element of rock. How is that a representation of all the people who live in Southeastern NC? Minorities need to boycott these events until everyone is represented. Black, Hispanics, Chinese, Indian, Korean, Soul Music, Pop Music, Rap Music, Club Music..anything but good ole boy southern Genere.

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The WAE: Wilmington-area Arts & Entertainment is dedicated to experiencing, discussing and promoting the arts in Southeastern N.C. From theater and all manner of music to visual art, dance, festivals and more, The WAE is populated by people who are immersed in local A&E. If it’s about A&E in Southeastern N.C., then we’re all about it.